What kind of accuracy are you getting with hunting loads

G

GSoD

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
49   0   0
The quick question:
What sort of accuracy do you get out of your big game (moose) hunting loads?

The longer version:

I've been trying to develop a moose load for the fall. So far I've tried 180grains in Barnes TSX and Nosler Partition fueled by various powders.

The best group (10 shots) I've been able to coax out of both them is a hair under 1" at about 2500fps.

In comparison, I've developed a long range target round with Varget and 175grain SMKs that will shoot between .3 and .7MOA at just under 2700fps.

Don't get me wrong. I'm continuing the journey. I'll be going down some weight into the 160's in TSX and Accubonds and I'm not looking for recipes or anything.

I just started wondering if I'm being unrealistic to be chasing target round type accuracy out of big game hunting bullets. Especially when at most I'd be shooting at 300 yards, and more often than not within 150yards. And with only 1" - 3" of deviation on such a large target should I really be concerned?

But then why handload if "good enough" counts.

Save me from my own madness.
 
The standard 180gr load in a .308 is 2600fps. If you are using a good bullet, going to a lighter weight will generate more speed, if that's what you're looking for.

For me it depends on the distances I'm going to be shooting game at. For 250-350yd shots, I'd be more inclined to drop to a 165gr and push it faster. For 250yds and under, the loads you have will work well.

BTW a 10-shot 1" group is nothing to balk at!
 
Last edited:
My sons Remington 700 7x57 gets into the magic inch with 140 grainers as well does the Remington 700 300 mag with 190 grain pills.
Some days it's a little bigger group due to shooter error...a good night sleep is good for groups.
Listening to the neighbors cat getting humped is not good for a good night sleep.......:mad:..so groups may suffer a tad. Moose will never know though......:cool:
 
The oft repeated phrase of "shoot the bullet that your rifle likes the best" is BS in my opinion. Accuracy is relatively unimportant in most big game hunting. Bullet performance IN the game is much more important, especially when shooting moose or similar big critters. I would always choose a moose bullet that will penetrate deeply while expanding well, over one that will shoot more accurately but may not kill as reliably or humanely. I personally would be OK hunting moose with a bullet/rifle that shoots 3" 100 yd. 5 shot groups, but tighter groups do build more confidence.
A real world example, I'd choose a Nosler Partition over their Ballistic Tip every time. The BT's are very accurate and are fine deer bullets, but I would not choose to use them for moose instead of the better partition design, even if the partition only shot 3" groups.
There are many good premium controlled expansion bullets to choose from. You have tried two of the best, pick one and go hunting.
 
I personally would be OK hunting moose with a bullet/rifle that shoots 3" 100 yd. 5 shot groups,
Click to expand...

I personally will not even own a gun that won't do much better than that with a suitable big game bullet.There are far too many rifles that will do 1" or better with bullets such as the tsx for me to consider owning a 3" gun.
 
Longwalker said:
The oft repeated phrase of "shoot the bullet that your rifle likes the best" is BS in my opinion. Accuracy is relatively unimportant in most big game hunting. Bullet performance IN the game is much more important, especially when shooting moose or similar big critters. I would always choose a moose bullet that will penetrate deeply while expanding well, over one that will shoot more accurately but may not kill as reliably or humanely. I personally would be OK hunting moose with a bullet/rifle that shoots 3" 100 yd. 5 shot groups, but tighter groups do build more confidence.
A real world example, I'd choose a Nosler Partition over their Ballistic Tip every time. The BT's are very accurate and are fine deer bullets, but I would not choose to use them for moose instead of the better partition design, even if the partition only shot 3" groups.
There are many good premium controlled expansion bullets to choose from. You have tried two of the best, pick one and go hunting.
Click to expand...

3" @100yds from the bench would equal a 9" group at 300yds.(or more) now take it off the bench and put a bit of physcial stress into the equation, that 300yard group could easily double in size to say 18 or 20", now you can very easily have a gut shot moose. Where is the humanity in that?
Accurate loadings first, shooter skill next, all the guchi hyper constructed ultra penetrating bullets last. For a very good reason. It the bullet will not go where it is required on every single shot, what is the point of shooting it.

Now if the diffrence between diffrent bullets is sub MOA the above rant is null and void.

I've killed and have seen killed dozens of moose, elk and bears, with so called explosive and under penetrating bullets, as long as the load and shooter were up to the task the end result was always the same. A full deep freeze!

Compensating for poor shooting skill and poorly developed loads, or unaccurized rifles, with heavier, and stouter constructed bullets is no diffrent than moving to a larger caliber for the same reasons.

Now we've entered into that quagmire that involves moral, and ethical behaviour, and we all know where those issues take us. (It's here but lets not go any further)
 
It seems that we all like our hunting rifles with "hunting" bullets to shoot groups as good as premium target bullets. Occasionally we get lucky, and that goal is accomplished. However, it is totally unrealistic to expect every hunting rig, using expanding bullets to shoot like that all the time. I am more than pleased to hunt with a MOA rifle/bullet combination, and even 1½ moa will not create problems in properly placing bullets out past 300 yards, since even a deer size target is doomed with such accuracy capability. If you happen to be an eastern Whitetail hunter, and your shots never exceed 100 yards, then a 3 moa rifle will do the job, and has done the job, many, many times. I personally put far more importance on where the first shot from a cold barrel lands, than anything else. I have not shot many "groups" at game animals lately. Granted, it is reassuring to have a very accurate rifle in the field, and there is nothing wrong with that, but over-obsession with target size groups for hunting purposes only adds frustration to the big picture. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Just to conclude my earlier post.

I worked up a load with 168grain Barnes TSX with 44grains of Varget that produced a 10 shot group at .497" with an average velocity of 2628fps.

I'm obviously pleased with these results.

Only another month until I hopefully get to introduce it to a moose.
 
Hunting Rifle

Accuracy required: well it doesn't have to be bench rest accuracy. If your rifle will shoot 3 shots into 1.5" thats just fine for big game. The real test is how well a fellow shoots off hand at 100M. You won't be seeing any 1" groups off hand. Bill
 
Last edited:
http://Like Eagleye said match bullets are usually better than hunting bullets and when testing a load I usually seat the bullets kissing the rifling. and the hunting bullets arte seated to work in magazine.
here is a load I found for 30.06 tested at 100 yards and 300 yards in a Rem 700
I have shot at least 3 groups at 100 yards under .500"
The day i shot at 300 was quite windy and missed the wind a couple of times

The 100 yard group was with 168gr MK and the 300 was 168gr MK and the hunting bullets where 165gr Nosler BT I also tryed the acccubonds they shot the same as the BT.
http://
P1040138.jpg
 
b72471 said:
Accuracy required: well it doesn't have to be bench rest accuracy. If your rifle will shoot 3 shots into 1.5" thats just fine for big game. The real test is how well a fellow shoots off hand at 100M. You won't be seeing any 1" groups off hand. Bill
Click to expand...

Yeah, your right. Tiny little groups sure are a confidence builder though. Manitou210 has a little ways to go yet - he totally missed that diamond;)
 
Last edited:
the kill zone on a moose is about as big as a two headed watermelon..you'll be fine

my 280 is shooting anywhere from 1/2-1" groups with 160 gr Accubonds, and my 338 Federal is shooting 1" with 210 gr TSX. I'm happy with those results, as I am probably what is keeping them from shooting even better. Haven't had much range time this year due to our local range being shut down for work. :(
 
I push my hunting rifles hard on the velocity scale to the point accuracy starts to fall off, I am happy with 1.5 moa but normaly get them into the one inch group range for 3 shots.
I do not try any Best In The West shooting on live game.

some of my 308, 270s 7mm hunting rifles do very well in the accuracy department, under Moa for 3 its the big fast powder burners that loose out at top velocity.
 
Last edited:
I was told the killing area on a moose is (broadside) the size of a 45 gallon drum! A deer is a 5 gallon pail. If you can hit either out to 250yds offhand your gonna fill the freezer!Or????????? JITC
 
The actual Vital area of a mature bull Moose is about 24" high by about 20" wide. A big muley is about half of those dimensions, or slightly more. Still a pretty generous area. But the coastal blacktails have a rather small vital area in comparison. The real test comes when one takes a shot on the long side, or when there is a wind trying to rip your hat off, and the animal is 300 meters away. Regards, Eagleye.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom